Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy with or without monoclonal antibody therapy in treating patients who have previously untreated HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. It is not yet known whether combination chemotherapy plus monoclonal antibody therapy is more effective than combination chemotherapy alone in treating HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV, doxorubicin IV, and vincristine IV on day 3 and oral prednisone on days 3-7. Patients receive rituximab on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for a minimum of 4 courses or 2 courses beyond complete response in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with stage I, stage IE (including bulky), or nonbulky stage II or IIE disease receive 3 courses of chemotherapy with rituximab followed by radiotherapy beginning 3 weeks after completion of the third course. Patients who achieve partial response for a minimum of 28 days or complete response receive maintenance rituximab IV beginning on day 28 of the final course of chemotherapy. Maintenance rituximab treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 3 courses.

I. Compare the efficacy of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) with or without rituximab in patients with previously untreated HIV-associated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

II. Determine the efficacy of rituximab as maintenance therapy following remission induction with CHOP in these patients.

III. Determine the effect of rituximab on the immune system and HIV viral load in these patients.

IV. Determine the relationship between EBV load and the presence of EBV in lymphoma tumor cells of these patients.

V. Compare the effect of CHOP with or without rituximab on EBV load in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study.

Patients are stratified by extent of disease (stage I/II vs III/IV). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms:

Arm I: Patients receive cyclophosphamide IV, doxorubicin IV, and vincristine IV on day 3 and oral prednisone on days 3-7. Patients receive rituximab on day 1. Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for a minimum of 4 courses or 2 courses beyond complete response in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with stage I, stage IE (including bulky), or nonbulky stage II or IIE disease receive 3 courses of chemotherapy with rituximab followed by radiotherapy beginning 3 weeks after completion of the third course. Patients who achieve partial response for a minimum of 28 days or complete response receive maintenance rituximab IV beginning on day 28 of the final course of chemotherapy. Maintenance rituximab treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 3 courses.

Evaluable disease HIV documentation may be serologic (ELISA or western blot), culture, or quantitative PCR or bDNA assay Tumors must be CD20 positive (greater than 50% cells express CD20)

A new classification scheme for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been adopted by PDQ. The terminology of "indolent" or "aggressive" lymphoma will replace the former terminology of "low", "intermediate", or "high" grade lymphoma. However, this protocol uses the former terminology.

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age: Over 18

Performance status: Karnofsky 70-100%

Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,000/mm3*

Platelet count greater than 75,000/mm3*

* Unless cytopenias are secondary to lymphoma

Bilirubin less than 2.0 mg/dL (unless secondary to hepatic infiltration with lymphoma or isolated hyperbilirubinemia associated with the use of indinavir)

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00003595